Clasp



Nov. 7, 1950 A. A. JOHNSON AL CLASP Filed May 1, 1948 A T TORNE Y1)" Patented Nov. 7, 1950 CLASP ArthurA. Johnson and Herbert G. Lehmann, Bridgeport, Conn, assignors to The Red Star Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application Ma y'l, 1948, Serial No. 24,485

3 Claims. (Cl. 24186) The present invention relates to an improvement in clasps and, as herein disclosed, "the im provements are embodied in clasps which are adapted primarily for use in securing in position the ends of a strip of loosely woven fabric such as the gauze within which the absorbent element of sanitary pads are commonly encased.

It has been the usual practice to retain the ends of this gauze to suitable suspension elements by various types of buckles,clasps or like attaching means, but in the main such prior devices do not afford the security demanded in this field and, in addition, the fastening is difficult to attain.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a clasp or fastener of the character described, which securely retains the ends of the pad from accidental removal, but which permits the fabric ends to be readily attached or detached.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth having novel means for threading the end of a sanitary napkin therein. I v

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth having novel means for ensuring the penetration of spears forming a part of the invention into a sanitary napkin.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing a portion of a sanitary napkin secured thereto; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of Figure 2.

Generally there is provided a clasp for catamenial diapers or sanitary napkins, which comprises a single piece of fiat material having a transversely extending eye for the reception of a strap or the like dependent from a sanitary belt of conventional character. The clasp is also provided with a second eye having an entrance throat at the side of the clasp. The latter eye is provided with spear-shaped teeth which extend at an angle to the horizontal from the lower inner edge of the eye.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein a sanitary napkin clasp comprising a single piece of flat material having a relatively narrow upper edge I and a relatively wide lower edge I I.

Adjacent the upper edge I0, there is provided a narrow transversely extending eye I2-adaptea to receive a strap I3 of a sanitary belt. In the greater part of the lower portion of the clasp there is provided an eye I4 having an entrance end-and throat I5 communicating with the upper the outer side of the clasp.

The lower inner edge of the eye I4'is at'an angle to the horizontal and is provided with spear-like teeth I6 and II. It will be noted that the tooth I6 is, therefore,-higher than the "tooth:

The throat I5 is located a substantial distanceabove the teeth I6 and I1 and the inner edge of the clasp opposite the throat defines an arc I9.

The end of the are nearest the eye I0 terminates elongated arm 25, which is upwardly and inwardly inclined to form the other wall of the throat I5. In operation, it will be apparent that the clasp may beattached in conventional manner to the strap I3 by utilizing the eye I2. Thereafter, when the belt is in position upon the users body (it being contemplated, of course, that two of the devices, one in front and one in back, are used in actual practice), an end I8 of a sanitary napkin assembly is introduced into the clasp by passing the same through th entrance throat I 5 and is guided by the arc portion I9 and is then brought downwardly against the teeth I6 and I1. It will be apparent that the tooth I6, being higher, will first come into contact with the gauze end I8 and will penetrate the same easily due to the fact that but one point is presented against the downward pull upon the napkin. Thereafter, the tooth I'I will individually come into contact with the gauze to penetrate the same. If both teeth were of the same height, considerable pressure or downward pull would be necessary to penetrate the gauze and the addition of more teeth, if all of the same height, would in turn correspondingly increase the downward pull required to penetrate the gauze. On the other hand, if a single tooth were employed, this would provide only limited engagement with the gauze and probable accidental unfastening. Thus, the present construction attains the security attendant on using more than one tooth, but without the amount of downward pull required in assembling the gauze ends on the fastener.

By providing an entrance throat l5 for the napkin tab, the latter may be inserted without threading as is ordinarily done, and, after the gauze isacaught ontheteeth, one or-more turns.- may betakenaround the body of; the clasp. by merely passing the end of the gauze repeatedly through the throat I5. laterally open clasp has the further advantage that if in use the gauze should stretch, it is merely necessary for the user totake another turn or hitch about the body of the clasp by passing the portion of the gauze between the.

clasp and the pad through the entrance opening l5, thereby shortening the length. of the.

assembly.

The depending portion 20 in cooperation with.

the upwardly and inwardly inclined arm 25 prevents: any inadvertent movement of. the gauze. from, the: openingwithin the. clasp attendant: upon: the; slackeningofthe gauze as, when the user. sits. If the gauze should tendto-rise. and; become. released, from the: barbs. Hiand il, it: would be caught by the'overhanging; portion 25:- before it: escaped through the opening, 15.. Thus, it. will beaseen that for. the gauze-toescape from the aperture in the-clasp it must follow a: tortur one path; upward. to the left and; then to the right around the arm 25 and then down past thedepending, arm 20. On the. other hand, when the tab is to. be removed from. the clasp. when the. gauze. isunwrapped from the. body portion lll eachturn-may beguidedthrough this-- tortuous path manually through. the entrance opening I5 without undue interference. from the. projecting portion 20 and the; vertical arm. 25.. Variations andmodifications may be, made. within} the scope. of this invention, and. portions? oi the improvements may be used without others.

We claim:

1. A. device of the characterv described com: prising a plate having an upper mounting apenture, a. large tabereceiving aperture definedbythev top of the plate, side stripsand a bottom ban, and tab-impaling barbs on' the-bottom bar lying. in said aperture, one of said side stripsy having, a. slot forming a passage for. the tab, said slot being intermediate-the; ends-oi said side' strip so as. to-form. upper and lowers lugs pr.e--

The provision of a 4 venting the inadvertent removal of the tab from the aperture, the slot being near the upper portion of the side strip whereby the lower lug is longer than the upper lug, and the lower lug being curved in towards the center of the aperture.

2; A- device of the character described comprising. a.plate, having-an upper mounting aperture, a large tab-receiving aperture defined by the top of the plate, side strips and a bottom bar, and tab-impaling barbs 0n the bottom bar lying in said aperture, one of said side strips having aslot forming a passage for the tab, said slot being intermediate the ends of said side strips so as toform upper and lower lugs preventing the inadvertent removal of the tab from the aperture, theslot being near the upper portion of the sidestrip whereby the lower lug is longer: than the upper lug, said lower lug curving inwardly toward the center of the aperture.

3. A device of v the. character. described comprising: a plate having an upper mounting apex;- ture, a large tab-receiving aperture defined. by, the top of the plate, side strips and a bottom bar, and tab-impaling, barbs on the bottomv bar lying in said, aperture, one of. said side. strips. having a slot. forming, apassage for the tab,, said. slot being intermediate, the ends of. said; side strip so astoiorm.- upper andlower lugspreventing, the inadvertent removal of the tab fromthe; aperture, the slot. being; near the upper portion. of-the'side strip whereb the lower lug islQrigeIi than the upper lug, and extends inwardly so. as to overlie at least one of the barbs.

ARTHUR A. JOHNSON. HERBERT G. LEHMANN;

REFERENCES CITED The; following, references are of recordinthe file of: this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date,

1,485,266 Hennah Feb. 26,, 1924 2,002,999 Jones May 28, 19 35, 2,017,551. Statter Oct. 15, 1.935 2,040,958 Schottenfels May 19,1936,

FOREIGN PATENTS Number. Country Date.

540,913 Great Britain, Nov.. 5,,194Sl1 781,950 France Mar. 4,1935 

